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Maryland Walmart Employees Take Part In Nationwide Walkout

By: Matt Laslo // November 23, 2012
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Employees from Walmart store No. 5129 in Maryland call on the company to not retaliate against protesters.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ourwalmart/8211386924/
Employees from Walmart store No. 5129 in Maryland call on the company to not retaliate against protesters.

Walmart is a favorite target of bargain hunters for Black Friday deals, but some worried that widespread strikes by Walmart employees could disrupt the holiday shopping flow. So far, that fear appears to have been unfounded.

At the Walmart in Hyattsville, Md., there is no sign of a protest. Families have been walking in and out all day, enjoying Black Friday discounts and stocking up for the next holiday.

On Thursday night, officials said they expected a large protest, as union officials were calling on workers to walk off their posts.

At the Capital Plaza Walmart in Landover, Md., more than one hundred protesters made their presence known. They questioned Walmart's decision to ask employees to work on Thanksgiving itself, as well as other concerns like their lack of access to healthcare.

Walmart says fewer than 50 associates nationwide actually walked off. The company is claiming its best-ever Black Friday sales, but the threat of a strike continues, as union labor organizers say strikes are planned in more than 100 cities.

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